Tesla Plans to Begin Mass Delivery of Semi Electric Trucks in 2026 at a Price Below $300,000

This summer, after years of delays, Tesla plans to begin mass deliveries of the Semi from its Nevada Gigafactory. According to a recent report by Tigress Financial Partners, the company expects to deliver 5,000 to 15,000 Semis by 2026, with annual production increasing to 50,000 units thereafter.

Surprisingly, Tesla is winning over a difficult-to-please and influential group—the truck drivers. Drivers who have tested the Semi in pilot programs say they like the central driving position, faster charging speeds, and a longer range—about $100,000 cheaper than other pure electric trucks.

Nearly a decade ago, when Tesla announced the Semi, it was seen as a transformative opportunity for the heavy truck industry, much like the Model 3 made electric cars affordable and popular.

Since then, Tesla has shifted its focus to artificial intelligence, robotics, and services like autonomous Cybercabs. Additionally, in the U.S., since the Trump administration canceled EV subsidies and relaxed fuel economy regulations, the automotive and transportation markets have largely moved away from battery-powered vehicles.

Tesla states that the Semi’s charging speed is four times faster than other pure electric trucks, reaching 60% charge in 30 minutes. While still slower than diesel refueling, it’s quite good for an electric vehicle.

Tesla claims the Semi can travel 500 miles on a single charge.

California, home to the busiest port complex in the country—Los Angeles-Long Beach—is also a hub for zero-emission trucks, although efforts to encourage truck drivers to switch from diesel to cleaner trucks have stalled over the years. In January 2025, anticipating opposition from the incoming Trump administration, California canceled a mandate requiring carriers to purchase clean trucks. Next month, struggling zero-emission truck manufacturer Nikola filed for bankruptcy, leaving carriers with maintenance challenges and high fueling costs for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Prolonged sluggish freight demand, rising labor costs, and trade uncertainties caused by tariffs have delayed truck purchases. This has made drivers less willing to invest in electric trucks that cost three times more than diesel, require hours to charge, and have a range of only about 200 miles.

Nevertheless, a California program offering subsidies for zero-emission truck purchases reopened last year and quickly sold out, according to Niki Okuk, head of trucks and non-road vehicles at the nonprofit Calstart. She attributes this to interest in the new Tesla Semi.

Over the past six months, California truck companies have received a total of $195 million in subsidies to purchase 1,002 Semis, according to Calstart data.

This is roughly twice the number of zero-emission heavy trucks currently operating in Southern California, based on data from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Tesla produces two versions of the Semi, with ranges of 325 miles and 500 miles. The company has not publicly disclosed the price of the Semi nor responded to requests for comment. Companies ordering the vehicles are bound by confidentiality agreements. However, sources say the price is below $300,000, roughly twice the cost of a diesel truck.